Opposition stalls work over relief package for farmers

The state government will provide last year’s Rs 250-crore relief package to farmers by March next year and also provide financial help from the consolidated funds of the state exchequer, if necessary, to bail out the state’s distressed farmers, whose crops were damaged due to recent unseasonal rains.

Amidst the ruckus created by the opposition in the state legislative council over the issue of compensating farmers, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar assured legislators that the state would provide all necessary helps to affected farmers.

Earlier, the leader of opposition in the council, Pandurang Fundkar, and others initiated a motion under rule 289, insisting that the chairman suspend everything and allow an urgent discussion on the issue.

However, the chairman — Shivajirao Deshmukh — refused to allow the motion, citing that he had allowed the motion by suspending all house business on Wednesday for discussion, but the opposition refused to initiate the debate.

As the opposition remained firm on the announcement of package for the farmers before the discussion, the house was adjourned twice amidst chaos.

The opposition pointed out that the debate would be a farce if the government announced a meager compensation at the end of the session. “We have had a bad experience in the past in this regard and hence we are demanding immediate announ-cement of the compensation,” said Jayant Patil from the Peasants’ And Workers’ Party.

Pawar reiterated that the government was ready for a discussion. “It is difficult for any government to compensate the affected farmers cent per cent. But, the state would extend maximum relief to them,” said Pawar.